Michelle Monaghan stars as a self-reliant trucker forced to take on the responsibility of caring for her 11-year-old son when his father (Benjamin Bratt) ends up in the hospital in this independent drama from Plum Pictures. James Mottern… MoreMichelle Monaghan stars as a self-reliant trucker forced to take on the responsibility of caring for her 11-year-old son when his father (Benjamin Bratt) ends up in the hospital in this independent drama from Plum Pictures. James Mottern directs from his own script, with Nathan Fillion, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jimmy Bennett set to co-star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Consensus:
Excellent performances by Michelle Monaghan and Nathan Fillion and keenly-observed details of small town life elevate this otherwise predictable and inconsistent melodrama.

Rene Rodriguez

Miami Herald

Monaghan demonstrates an untapped level of talent and skill in Trucker, tackling the difficult role of a woman who refuses to behave as societal norms dictate and has paid the price with loneliness and alienation.

Monaghan, so good in Gone Baby Gone, mopes self-consciously through the role of Diane, a loner who finds her heart when she's thrown together with her estranged 11-year-old son (Jimmy Bennett), whom she takes on the road. Yes, it's one of those movies.

The only flaw of the film is that halfway through, you already know the ending. Still, by knowing, the film is so well made that it pulls you in and makes you… MoreThe only flaw of the film is that halfway through, you already know the ending. Still, by knowing, the film is so well made that it pulls you in and makes you want to stick around and await the inevitable ending. Michelle Monaghan pulls off an Oscar-Worthy performance as "Diane Ford", and the rest of the solid cast help keep this movie on it's high octane cylinders of brilliant storytelling. Trucker is a must see drama!

Cynthia S.

Man am I a sucker for movies that revolve around kids. This movie was right up my alley. Wonderfully done, with really wonderful actors. I LOVE A GREAT ENDING!!… MoreMan am I a sucker for movies that revolve around kids. This movie was right up my alley. Wonderfully done, with really wonderful actors. I LOVE A GREAT ENDING!! and this movie had an awesome one.

Nani Vang

It's pretty slow throughout, but I already expected that and to be honest, that's my kind of film. Michelle Monaghan was excellent and Jimmy Bennett… MoreIt's pretty slow throughout, but I already expected that and to be honest, that's my kind of film. Michelle Monaghan was excellent and Jimmy Bennett was just lovable as her son. Nathan Fillion didn't disappoint either. All of these performances pulled this film together.
Michelle Monaghan plays Diane, a trucker who lives life by her rules until one unexpected day her 11-year old son, Peter, gets dropped off because his father (Benjamin Bratt) has cancer and is in the hospital.

Sol C

Michelle Monaghan's performance is the best reason to watch this film. She is amazing and it is one of her best performances that she has given so far. She… MoreMichelle Monaghan's performance is the best reason to watch this film. She is amazing and it is one of her best performances that she has given so far. She should have gotten an Oscar nomination for it. The film kind of like reminded me of the film, Transamerica, especially about the mother/son bonding type of film.
Monaghan had a good chemistry with Jimmy Bennett who played her son in the film. Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt, and Joey Lauren Adams provide solid supporting work. The only negative is that the pacing is off. However, cause of the acting being really good, I didn't mind the pacing being off like I normally would. I definitely recommend this film, especially to catch Monaghan's performance.

paul sandberg

This film has at its core a really overused plot - the estranged young son forced to re-unite with a parent, who then, after a bumpy ride, learn to love each… MoreThis film has at its core a really overused plot - the estranged young son forced to re-unite with a parent, who then, after a bumpy ride, learn to love each other. But by its gritty, low down tone, somehow the film manages to keep from becomming overy maudlin.
What keeps Trucker afloat is indeed the portrayal of a female trucker and all that signifies - the yearning for independance and being your own person, beholden to no-one but yourself. This is what makes this film rise above a throwaway, as though, yes, you've seen this plot before, but never in this way.
Michelle Monaghan is very solid and carries the film well and the child actor does an adequit job of portraying the bitterness and false bravado necessary of the role.
But... a few things I found disconcerting. First, there's an overly long scene at the VFW with Monaghan and her neighbor dancing - ok, we get the message, now move on - no reason for a 5 minute segment showing the two having some fun - could have had the same effect in 1-2 minutes tops. Certainly a "filler" moment for me.
Then there is the constant reference to Monaghan's "beauty" - including a bit of dialog about her chest. To each their own I suppose, but she's certainly not chesty and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it didn't do the film any favors to keep harping on it. Besides, the film would be making a much better statement if it would have allowed that Monaghan's charactor was catnip because she was such a free spirit instead of some kind of beauty queen. It would have fit the flavor of the film much, much better; I'm just saying...

♥˩ƳИИ ƜѲѲƉƧ♥

CAST: Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion, Jimmy Bennett, Benjamin Bratt, Joey Lauren Adams
DIRECTED BY: James Mottern
SUMMARY: Michelle Monaghan stars as a… MoreCAST: Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion, Jimmy Bennett, Benjamin Bratt, Joey Lauren Adams
DIRECTED BY: James Mottern
SUMMARY: Michelle Monaghan stars as a self-reliant trucker forced to take on the responsibility of caring for her 11-year-old son when his father (Benjamin Bratt) ends up in the hospital.
MY THOUGHTS: I enjoyed the slow pace of this movie. It made every bit of it feel more real. But if not for the great cast and their performances, this could have went really wrong. But thankfully everyone was great in this film. Especially Michelle Monaghan. She really did a fantatic job at making her character real and relatable. Jimmy Bennett as the son was great. He really held his own in this film. Nathan Fillion brought some comedy releif, which was needed in this drama. Benjamin Bratt just breaks my heart in the last scene he is in with Jimmy Bennett. Just a really great movie. Hope more see it.

Brian De Guelle

A slow burning drama which nothing really happens and not alot a to say. But what help the film along are the performance from Michella Monaghan who seem… MoreA slow burning drama which nothing really happens and not alot a to say. But what help the film along are the performance from Michella Monaghan who seem perfect for the role and great to see her handline a movie.On form as always is Nathan Fillon who is alway good no sorry Great and is one of my fav actors at the moment.This is great for a sunday afternoon easy on the ears and eyes .

Deb S

Michelle Monaghan stars as Diane Ford, a young truck driver leading a carefree life of long-haul trucking, one night stands and all-night drinking with best… MoreMichelle Monaghan stars as Diane Ford, a young truck driver leading a carefree life of long-haul trucking, one night stands and all-night drinking with best friend, Runner (played by Nathan Fillion of the TV show Castle) until her world is turned up sided down when her estranged son of ten years (Jimmy Bennett) is dropped off on her doorstep due to his father's recent diagnosis of cancer. Burdened with this new responsibility Diane is forced to change her life and behavior in order to be something she doesn't quite know how to be, a mother.
The movie is slow paced but I found myself captivated by Monaghan as she discovers her vulnerability where her 11-year-old son is concerned and finds herself succumbing to her maternal instincts.
<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2hhd254" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2hhd254.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

Bruce Bruce

A good indy film, nothing more, so say it has a slow star, I say it's slow throughout. Good acting and good story line just can't go any higher the 3… MoreA good indy film, nothing more, so say it has a slow star, I say it's slow throughout. Good acting and good story line just can't go any higher the 3 staqsr

Drew Smith

I was totally rooting for Michelle Monaghan to succeed in this. I think I've seen her in exactly two movies, one of which I hated, but she's against… MoreI was totally rooting for Michelle Monaghan to succeed in this. I think I've seen her in exactly two movies, one of which I hated, but she's against Hollywood type and has a certain demure, intelligent appeal. That makes it all the more upsetting to say that she's one of the big problems in Trucker, often not able to get around the ridiculously hokey script she's served. I can't imagine her taking the script for any reason other to challenge herself, and though her bravery is appreciated, the performance is inconsistent. Watching her spit out "man" after "dude" in her scratchy faux-roughness is an almost painful experience. I think she has the tools to do better work than this, even in the context of similar subject matter, as she seems to have a fairly impressive command of physicality and facial expression; watching her storm across the street in her underwear to beat up a couple of punks who bullied her son is one of the movie's indelible highlights. Scattered moments like those are what kept me plowing through the movie's pervasive mediocrity - neither looking nor sounding particularly interesting, and not putting anything new on the table in any of its subgenres ("Hard-Luck Woman", "Reunited With Child"), Trucker finds itself teetering on the edge of the forgotten indie flicks abyss. Monaghan's support is generally good, with a reliable performance from Nathan Fillion in his wheel house. How many times has he given us this angle before? When Castle is the biggest stretch of character on your IMDB page, there's a definite problem afoot. Benjamin Bratt is effective in his sparse few scenes, and Jimmy Bennett is a surprise. The kid's a total shit, and the movie's lack of clarity as to why makes it difficult to find sympathy for him, but at least he works his assignment convincingly.
Actually, that ambiguity is one of Trucker's strengths. The characters may be a little broad at times, but James Mottern never lets on as to why these people behave like they do, or what brought them to their current circumstances. Considering the rest of the movie's expository heaviness, the unusual mysteries behind Diane and her son are basically what propel the movie into watchability. Ultimately I was a little disappointed with Trucker, as it's a lot more conventional than I would have hoped for, and not quite the star-making turn from Monaghan that people like Ebert had trumpeted. Still, it's not terrible, and if you're interested in the subject matter then a watch can't hurt.

Walter M.

"Trucker" starts with Diane(Michelle Monaghan) taking a short break from her job as a truck driver by having sex in a motel room before resuming her… More"Trucker" starts with Diane(Michelle Monaghan) taking a short break from her job as a truck driver by having sex in a motel room before resuming her drive home to California. While there, she hangs out with her married friend Runner(Nathan Fillion) who she drops off drunkenly on his front porch before walking the rest of the way home. When she gets there, she is unpleasantly surprised to find Jenny(Joey Lauren Adams), the wife of her ex-husband Len(Benjamin Bratt), who tells her that due to his illness and her prior commitments, she cannot take care of Len and Diane's 11-year old son Peter(Jimmy Bennett, of "No Ordinary Family") and leaves him with a very reluctant Diane. Not having anywhere else to turn, she takes him on a run to Oklahoma City to which he responds with the amount of enthusiasm one would expect.
Aided by an emotionally raw performance from Michelle Monaghan, "Trucker" is a low-key character study that is thankfully not a referendum on whether women can drive trucks, since of course they can. Throughout the film, we are informed of her past in bits and pieces, becoming quite clear how tough she has gotten out of necessity over the years while not judging her. As much as she wants to control the timetable of her life, Diane has to remember that nobody is ever fully in control of their destiny. So, it is a good thing that she is never as totally alone as she thinks she is.

Christopher Haskell

For first time director James Mottern's first endeavor, he takes what ever Indy director dreams of and makes it a reality: Success.